NORMAL — Loyola entered the final game of the IHSA football season hoping to claim its third consecutive state championship and as a heavy favorite to do so.
The Ramblers got it with a 35-14 Class 8A title game win on Saturday night at Illinois State University, but York made them work for it.
Loyola (12-2) didn’t gain more than a touchdown advantage in the contest until midway through the third quarter when Conlon Kane made a spectacular 6-yard touchdown reception.
And even then York, playing in its first championship game, continued to try to keep itself in the game. But after piling up 270 yards of total offense in the first half the Dukes (11-3) couldn’t sustain offense long enough to keep Loyola’s clock-chewing, yardage grabbing offense off the field. Loyola then seized control of yet another postseason game in the second half of a close contest.
Loyola, who had less yardage than York at halftime, ended up with 21 first downs and thoroughly dominated time of possession in the second half. The Ramblers officially iced the game with a 4-yard touchdown run from Drew MacPherson early in the fourth quarter.
Jimmy Conners found an early break in the Loyola defense and scampered 74 yards for a score to give York an early 7-0 lead; but Loyola didn’t take much time to counter with a Ryan Fitzgerald pass to Will Carson from 18 yards out that tied things at 7-all.
Loyola pushed ahead with a 12-yard touchdown run from MacPherson at the 8:40 mark of the second quarter, but York, using a heavily productive running game managed to come right back and answer that score with a 1-yard touchdown run from Bruno Massel.
York’s success in the first half hinged heavily on in its ability to run the football against a Loyola defensive front that had been extremely stingy giving up gains on the ground to most of its previous opponents. In its 13 games entering the final, Loyola had allowed a little more than an average of 100 yards per game.
In the contest’s first 20 minutes, Massel alone had run for 126 yards and the Dukes as a whole passed 200 yards rushing as a team midway through the second quarter.
But while York was having success running the football, they weren’t able to figure out how to hem in MacPherson, who had 115 yards of total offense including a 16-yard touchdown reception from Fitzgerald that gave Loyola a 21-14 lead at halftime.
Loyola Academy’s Ryan Fitzgerald picks up yardage as he holds off York’s Thomas Hosler during their Class 8A state championship game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
Loyola Academy’s Drew MacPherson looks to get by York’s Riggins Kohl during their Class 8A state championship game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
Loyola Academy’s Drew MacPherson is tackled by York’s Angelo Martire as he scores a touchdown during their Class 8A state championship game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
York’s Jimmy Conners is brought down by Loyola Academy’s Gavin King during their Class 8A state championship game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
Loyola Academy’s Drew MacPherson gets by York’s Evan Gaughan on his way to scoring a touchdown during their Class 8A state championship game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
Loyola Academy’s Drew MacPherson tries to get outside of York’s Noah Zmrhal during their Class 8A state championship game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
Loyola Academy’s Ryan Fitzgerald looks for a receiver during their Class 8A state championship game against York Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
York’s Bruno Massel is pursued by Loyola Academy’s Tommy Ghislandi (left) and Donovan Robinson during their Class 8A state championship game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
York’s Bruno Massel gets by Loyola Academy’s Quinn Drehkoff during their Class 8A state championship game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
York’s Bruno Massel scores a touchdown as he runs by Loyola Academy’s Henry Newton during their Class 8A state championship game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
York’s Henry Duda carries the ball during their Class 8A state championship game against Loyola Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
Loyola Academy’s Gavin Vradenburg catches a long pass behind York’s Noah Zmrhal during their Class 8A state championship game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
Loyola Academy’s Gavin Vradenburg makes a catch in front of York’s Noah Zmrhal during their Class 8A state championship game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
York’s Bruno Massel gets by Loyola Academy’s Quinn Drehkoff during their Class 8A state championship game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
Loyola Academy’s Ryan Fitzgerald corals a bad snap during their Class 8A state championship game against York Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
Loyola Academy’s Will Carlson catches a touchdown pass in front of York’s Drew Richardson during their Class 8A state championship game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
York’s Henry Duda tries to get by Loyola Academy’s Kai Calcutt during their Class 8A state championship game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
Loyola Academy’s Drew MacPherson tries to pull free from York’s Noah Zmrhal during their Class 8A state championship game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
Loyola Academy’s Ryan Fitzgerald tries to pull free from a York tackler during their Class 8A state championship game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.
Loyola Academy’s Drew MacPherson tries to pull free from York’s Noah Zmrhal during their Class 8A state championship game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.